The sober festival-goer’s guide
Tips from an alcohol-free Glastonbury
A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting to an acquaintance at a work event when I mentioned that I was planning not to drink at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
“What??” she exclaimed, looking horrified. “I mean, I barely drink, but I couldn’t get through Glastonbury sober.”
I understand why people think like this: the late nights, the unforgiving weather (boiling hot in the day, suddenly freezing after sundown), the long-drop toilets… all of it is easier when you’re hammered, right?
Then there are the people who raved to me about a sober Glastonbury; getting up with the sunrise and walking around the stone circle when it’s quiet, or spending time in the healing field, away from the drunk people around the stages.
But I didn’t want that kind of Glastonbury either. Instead, I wanted to stay up late and watch all the big acts and dance and laugh and enjoy it fully. I wanted to show that a sober Glastonbury can actually be properly, ridiculously fun.
This is what I learned
Preparation is everything. You’re not allowed to take glass into the festival, but you can bring in your own cans, so I arrived armed with Trip CBD drinks and Hip Pop kombucha. (Side note: interested to see that the UK Food Standards Authority has slashed its recommended acceptable daily intake of CBD to 10mg a day. Each can of Trip has 15mg, so maybe now’s the time to stock up before they’re forced to reformulate??)
Energy is a state of mind. If you go into a sober Glastonbury thinking, “I’m going to flag really early if I’m not drunk,” then of course you will. Fresh air, conversations with fun people and (importantly) dancing are all classic natural ways to keep you energised.
There is no smugger feeling than waking up hangover-free. I was tired, obviously, but so glad I didn’t have to face any queasy, blurry hangxiety. I’d see others suffering after a boozy night and think, what a waste of time. I had just as much fun as they did the night before, but I can keep my breakfast down. By night three, I had more energy than any drunk person in that field - perfect for dancing to Olivia Rodrigo.
Hydrate hydrate hydrate. Just because you’re not drinking alcohol doesn't mean you can forget about drinking. Glastonbury is really good at having loads of water refill points - use them.
Eat well. You’re less likely to tolerate a gross burger when sober, so make an effort to seek out delicious and healthy food options - they do exist at Glastonbury! It will also provide long-lasting energy; a mega salad box full of beans and lentils powered me through Charli XCX (not very brat, but there we are).
The shift to sobriety is a myth (at Glastonbury at least). Lots of people advised me that having a sober buddy would make it easier. Could I find one? Could I hell. And it wasn’t just because all my friends are over 35 - young people are drinking too. I just had to get comfortable with being the only one not involved in rounds at the bar.
The world needs to get better at alcohol-free options. Once my Trips ran out, I was disappointed to learn that - if you didn’t fancy a 0% beer - most of the bars only had Coke and Sprite. Glastonbury is supposed to be forward-thinking, and really should have a nice kombucha bar by now.
Music is a drug. There is loooooads of science around this, which I’ve written about before, but music can lift your mood and energy like nothing else. Add in the vibrations of 200,000 people singing and dancing together, and you don’t need booze.
This week I’m…
Learning about the “wild and miraculous” female body with Polly Vernon’s new book, How the Female Body Works
Then getting serious about future-proofing it, with Immune to Age: The game-changing science of lifetime health by Dr Jenna Macciochi
Not impressed with M&S attempting to appeal to younger shoppers by calling its new green juice Punishment Juice. Not only is it annoying for those of us who argue that being healthy doesn’t have to be punishing, it’s been deemed a “cringe uncle” move by Gen Z
I love the pink dress you’re wearing in the top pic. Gorgeous. I SO wanted to go to Glastonbury this year. Tried my best to get tickets but had a very happy time watching hours of it at home. I would have been your sober buddy. I’m now very used to not drinking at festivals and parties and genuinely do not miss it. So many advantages. But agree- festivals need to get better at offering stuff beyond coke and Fanta etc. The last (mini) festival I was at this summer was in Brockwell Park- Wide Awake - and I was really surprised to discover it was impossible to find any alcohol free drinks that weren’t lemonade or coke- neither of which I like that much (unless I’m hungover….which of course I never am these days) 😀
I went to a friends mini Glasto at the weekend in their garden in Devon - there was a marquee and dancing and it went on til 4am and I only had one glass of fizz throughout the whole night (that’s constitutes sober to me) and got four hours sleep, woke up having had an excellent time, a solid four hours and felt actually great. I genuinely feel like I’ve been freed by my decision to have sober (ish) nights out. It’s so freeing! Am planning on going to Glasto in ‘27 and I will very much be planning on doing it sober!